Megan’s Summer Reading List

What’s it about:Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago. Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life where the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.

Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and a town that must—once and for all—leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.

Megan’s Comments: Varina Denman’s debute: Jaded was wonderful. Her second release: Justified somehow captured my heart evenmore. To be able to go back to the small-town feel done right, with characters that have real-life problems, count me in. I’m anxious for Lynda to find her own hope, healing, and love. And I’m also excited about the possible chance to see Ruthy and Fawn again too.

No Way Up by Mary ConnealyPublication Date: July 5, 2016Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

What’s it about:New Western Romance Series from Bestselling Author Mary Connealy

When Cimarron ranch patriarch Chance Boden is caught in an avalanche, the quick actions of hired hand Heath Kincaid save him. Badly injured, Chance demands that his will be read and its conditions be enforced immediately.

Without anyone else to serve as a witness, Heath is pressed into reading the will. If Justin, Sadie, and Cole Boden don’t live and work at home for the entire year, the ranch will go to their low-down cousin Mike.

Then Heath discovers the avalanche was a murder attempt, and more danger might follow. Deeply involved with the family, Heath’s desire to protect Sadie goes far beyond friendship. The danger keeps them close together, and their feelings grow until being apart is the last thing on their minds.

Megan’s Comments: Currently, I’m in a bit of a history binge. (Translation: I’m gobbling up all things Mary Connealy and Karen Witemeyer right now.) And after reading Ms. Connealy’s newest (free!!!) Novella: The Boden Birthright, which kicks off her latest series: The Cimarron Legacy, I’m more than ready to see what kind of trouble she’ll put her newest characters through. And as always I’m a real sucker for books in a series. 🙂

What’s it about:Goose Harbor, Michigan, is the perfect place for Kendall Mayes to start over and open her date-planning business. When she encounters handsome loner Brice Daniels, who is struggling to keep the shipping business he runs going, she sees an opportunity. A weekly sunset cruise catering to couples and tourists will keep their dealings strictly business. Kendall has had enough of failed romances, and Brice is too burned by love to give it another chance. But despite their reservations, they soon let down their walls. Yet when Kendall’s silent business partner is revealed to be Brice’s longtime enemy, staying together might be next to impossible.

Megan’s Comments: Why am I going to read this book…because I really like Jessica Keller’s writing. Really. Plain and simple. She makes me laugh. Her characters are believable and cheerable. There’s an ahhh factor. AKA everything I need. After growing quite attached to the Goose Harbor Series, I’m glad to have a chance to return!

Smart. Responsible. That’s seventeen-year-old Breanna’s role in her large family, and heaven forbid she put a toe out of line. Until one night of shockingly un-Breanna-like behavior puts her into a vicious cyberbully’s line of fire—and brings fellow senior Thomas “Razor” Turner into her life.

Razor lives for the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, and good girls like Breanna just don’t belong. But when he learns she’s being blackmailed over a compromising picture of the two of them—a picture that turns one unexpected and beautiful moment into ugliness—he knows it’s time to step outside the rules.

And so they make a pact: he’ll help her track down her blackmailer, and in return she’ll help him seek answers to the mystery that’s haunted him—one that not even his club brothers have been willing to discuss. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow. And suddenly they’re both walking the edge of discovering who they really are, what they want, and where they’re going from here.

Megan’s Comments: This one’s been a wild card for me for a while. I’ve seen it online and at my bookstore, and each time it seems to say: ‘READ ME’. The last Harlequin Teen book I read I was quite pleased with the voice of the writer, the ‘cleanness’ of the story, and of course the happily-ever-after ending. So I’m hoping Walk the Edge doesn’t let me down. The premise of the ‘bad’ boy and the ‘good’ girl can be a bit tricky, but I’m rooting for the author.

P.S. Apparently, this story is book two in the Thunder Road series…see, I’m attracted to books in series even when I don’t realize they’re in one. 🙂 But both Walk the Edge and No-where But Here seem to be stand-alones too.

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. PearsonPublication Date: August 2, 2016Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

What’s it about:Lia and Rafe have escaped Venda and the path before them is winding and dangerous – what will happen now? This third and final book in The Remnant Chronicles is not to be missed.

Bestselling author Mary E. Pearson’s combination of intrigue, suspense, romance and action make this a riveting page turner for teens.

Megan’s Comments: Well, that story summary wasn’t much. Was it? 🙂 But this General Market YA Science Fiction/ Fantasy series (that description was almost as long as the summary itself.) had me sucked into its world from the twist point in book one. And even though I’m afraid I’ll be on the losing end of the love-triangle… I’m going to see it through to the end. Here’s to hoping for more wonderful, page-turning plot twists in book three!

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About The Author

Megan Besing

Megan Besing adores stories with happily-ever-afters. Her own YA writings have received many awards, including being a current finalist in ACFW’s 2015 Genesis contest. She lives in the Hoosier state (wishing it were a bit closer to the beach) with her husband, their children, a cat, and some chickens, where she enjoys an unhealthy love of vanilla cokes. Learn more about her at meganbesing.com.